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Ben Kinsella, 16, who was stabbed to death |
Politicians and police in search for solution after latest knife death
CRIME chiefs are desperately trying to convince residents they are doing all they can to stem youth violence in the wake of Ben Kinsella’s murder and will hold crisis talks this morning (Friday).
It comes amid warnings from families who have been through similar tragedies that talks, seminars and inquiries held by politicians have had little impact.
A five-month investigation into youth crime by Islington Council last year led to 40 recommendations including issuing police teams with hand-held knife detectors and increasing the use of controversial stop-and-search methods.
But not all of the strategies have come into effect and there is concern over whether some of them will ever be adopted. Senior figures at the council and police chiefs will today discuss their next move, bringing in counterparts from neighbouring Camden.
Islington’s borough commander Chief Superintendent Bob Carr said: “I don’t think this is an Islington problem, it’s a national problem.
“It’s absolutely awful that we’ve had three teenagers killed in Islington over the last 13 months and I feel that pain as much as anyone else.”
He added: “We could double the stop-and-search rate again, but I’m not convinced that’s where the answer lies. It lies in the culture of carrying knives.”
Ben’s family have already pledged to be part of any campaign that will convince teenagers to surrender their weapons and the thrust of a march through Islington on Tuesday was to spell out the need for immediate action to politicians, including London Mayor Boris Johnson.
The 16-year-old’s sister, Brooke, said: “Our hearts go out to every family who has also suffered this terrible tragedy – and now it is truly time to put an end to this. Please, please let us learn from Ben and every other child that has been stolen from us.”
But Ben’s relatives and friends are following in the footsteps of families who have been through the same grief – and remain concerned that their efforts have failed to lead to a change for the better.
Lorraine Dinnegan, whose 14-year-old son Martin died last July in Holloway after being stabbed in the street, said: “It’s still going on and it’s on our doorstep. I don’t see an end to it yet. There won’t be an end unless the government and the Mayor comes up with something different.”
Dee Roberts, whose son Tommy Winston died in January 2006, just yards from the spot when Ben was attacked, said she had grown frustrated with politicians’ willingness to talk but apparent reluctance to take forceful action.
She told the Tribune: “It is too late for me. And now it is too late for Ben Kinsella’s family. Their lives have been ruined like mine. Every day I wake up I am reminded of what happened to Tommy.”
Tommy, 16, was stabbed in Brecknock Road, almost within sight of the scene of the latest tragedy, by an old school friend who was later convicted of murder.
Ms Roberts said: “The older generation are completely at a loss as to what’s going on. People do not understand the fallout, the effect it has on the family. I have attended parent groups, been on marches, signed petitions that have been delivered to Downing Street. Nothing has been done.”
Islington’s commission was set up in the wake of Martin Dinnegan’s murder and the death of Nassirudeen Osawe, 16, who was killed in Upper Street last December.
Claudia Webbe, vice-chairwoman of the Operation Trident’s Advisory Committee, said: “Although useful, the commission is too little, too late and the results of the commission’s recommendations won’t be felt for some time.”
She called for more resources to be poured into youth services.
Ms Webbe added: “We’ve seen over the years the decimation of youth services and funding to voluntary organisations.
“We need to restore very quickly a functioning youth service. The time for talking has long passed. What is needed is some clear action.”
But council deputy leader and crime chief Lib-Dem councillor Terry Stacy said there was nothing more that could be done to counter knife attacks.
He said: “We’re already doing it all and have been since the death of Martin Dinnegan. We’ve been pulling out all the stops.
“We’re going to look at everything we possibly can to see what our next actions are. The commission’s recommendations are being implemented.”
Labour councillor Paul Convery backed calls for more stop and searches but said nothing had changed since the death of Martin.
“The lessons haven’t been learned and there’s some hesitation about implementing some of the things that came from the commission,” he said.
“We need to get a lot tougher on the carrying of weapons.
“That requires more random searches, more detection. Young people said to us they would welcome stop and searches. We do need to open this question again.”
Cllr Convery added: “We’ve got young men on the street, learning no boundaries at all and doing dangerous things not knowing the consequences. They should be going to the swimming pool, climbing trees and playing sports that burn lots of energy.”
Islington-based broadcaster Alex Pascal, who founded the Notting Hill Carnival and established black newspaper The Voice, claimed young people wanted the police to stop and search more people to get knives off the streets.
He said: “My impression from the youth I speak to is that they are so worried about knife crime that they are in favour of more stop and search.
“The children say that if the police don’t stop people we will never get rid of the knives.
“It’s no good us adults wringing out hands in despair – we need to talk to youngsters and they need to talk to us.
“They must tell us why when they go out at night they need to carry a knife when they know what loss and heartache it can bring.” |
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